Tuesday, November 26, 2013

I don't know about you but if I can make it to Thanksgiving then I can do three more weeks until Christmas Break! AHHHHHHH!!!

During this break I have been working hard on updating products that I created last year. I have grown a lot as an educator in being a TpT seller. I have grown as a teacher in that I pay attention to the details more. The things I created last year I just sit and look at and say, "what was I thinking"? Then the dubious task of upgrading products begins and there is always more to it then you think. So here are some upgraded products that I have been working on to be what I would want to purchase. I wonder if next year when I look at them that I will ask the same question I did this year?

Oh Yeah, I have also been dabbling in creating graphics. It takes a lot longer to create them then I ever imagined but please enjoy them in making some of your Christmas projects. I have a new found respect for some of the graphics artists I know.

These are something that I have wanted for over a year now but could never find any Candy Cane letters and numbers that I liked. So here they are and I am looking forward to using them soon to create new units for Christmas. This set has 72 letters, numbers, and candy cane graphics. This is not a font, just letters, numbers, number signs and a candy cane frame. If you would like to take a look at them click on the image above and it will take you right to the product on TpT.

The first products I updated was my Christmas Math and Literacy Centers. I have now included both color and greyscale since everyone is as printer conscious as I am. I wish that I didn't have to worry about it because I prefer to have my centers in color, not in greyscale.

The next product I worked on was my Christmas Math Centers and here are some previews for you to look at and click on if you are interested. I also sell all of these individually in my store as well if you don't want to purchase the entire packet of centers.

If you are interested in taking a look at the Math Centers just click on any of the pictures above.

Here's to Family, Friends, and Thanksgiving Meals shared together and created together. I hope that your Thanksgiving Holiday is a very special celebration and that you share all of the things you are thankful for.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

In the United States, Veterans Day is observed on November 11. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated for holiday leave, and if it occurs Saturday then either Sunday or Saturday or Friday, may be designated. Regardless of when it occurs we should all be thankful to those who served in the military. As a military family I know that it is not just the veteran that gives but their families as well.

So today I thank my two sons for serving and providing the freedom that some of us take for granted. Thank you to all military families and I know a lot who have given so much in the name of freedom. I have a lot of people tell me to tell my sons "thank you for serving in the military" and it always touches my heart.

Thank you Aaron for sacrificing for all of us!

Thank you Justin for sacrificing for all of us!

STOP!!!

Do not read further unless you want to read the truth!

Okay, that is the wonderful part of Veterans Day; the celebrations, the cookouts and being with our families. BUT there is something that I want ALL of you to know. It isn't pretty on the other end of the wonderful "coming homes". Here are some statistics that the media will not tell you because they really hurt, they are painful and down right embarrassing. This is how our military men and women are really treated. Not all of them but here are the statistics. I am sure as of this date these statistics are much higher.

There are860,000American veterans needing help from the Veterans Administration and few are getting it.

There are 360,000 soldiers diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or TBI.

As many as 130,000men and women who served in uniform are now sleeping homeless on the streets of America.

On an average day more then 22take their own lives out of despair.

A Veteran dies by suicide every 80 minutes. (Veterans Affairs)

336,000 have PTSD (Veterans Affairs)

In 2012, more US Soldiers, Seamen, Airmen and Marines died by their own hands than in battle. (Washington Post)

During each conflict in which America participates there are Veterans left behind. There have been millions of people that come home from wars shattered, broken, and unable to ever earn a living. Some families are broken by death, while others have had their loved ones return unrecognizable.

My own son lost his home, his girlfriend, had to drop out of school, lost his job and his future of going to get his doctorate in organic chemistry. He is not one of the 130,000 that are on the streets because he is with me. If it weren't for me he would be one of the statistics listed above.

If this isn't what you expected then find a way to help out and make this all stop! I earn a living by teaching and then my Teachers Pay Teachers funds go into my being his primary care giver for his health and well-being.

I am thankful that I have him here and that he came home alive, but I would like to have my real son back. The one that was the life of the party, the one that always made us laugh, the one that loved devoting his life to finding a cure for Alzheimer disease, the one that was so active on the campus of Georgia Southern. No, he is not who left to go to war, but he is here with me and I am thankful today and every day that I wasn't handed a folded flag by another Marine. I keep hoping and praying that one day he will have his life back, but he has been declared 100% disabled by the medical profession and psychiatrists.

I close this post with this thought: Is there something you can do to help? Look hard, you will find something to do to help out your fellow Americans.